Inner sole for a shoe

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an inner sole for a shoe, comprising a base body, a covering layer and several cushioned layers arranged on the surface of the sole. A first cushioned layer is provided in the ball area of the forefoot, a second cushioned layer is included in the transition area of the metatarsus and the tarsus and a third cushioned area is provided between the metatarsus and the heel. The cushioned layers are subdivided into individual, separate plateau-like fields which are located close to each other in the transversal direction of the sole surface. This provides an inner sole which brings about a substantial improvement in the transport of fluids in the venous and lymphatic vessel system in the legs during movement of the foot joints and ankle joints by means of synergistic support of the muscle structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inner sole for a shoe, which isembodied as a foot support, having an inner sole with a sole base body,a sole cover layer and several cushion layers arranged on the surface ofthe sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On the average, every fifth person in the age group between 20 and 70years needs treatment because of diseased veins, and particularly everythird person suffers from pathological vein changes which, although theydo not yet need invasive treatment, nevertheless cause troubles and mayneed treatment in the future. In general, the cause of this often is agenetically caused weakness of the connective tissues, which leads to arelaxation of the walls of the veins and therefore to a lack in theability of the venous valves to close. This results in a reduction ofthe venous return flow from the legs into the body.

Supportive measures are known in the form of so-called pressure hose,but preventive measures are unknown, in particular in connection withpeople who, because of their occupation, perform predominantly sittingor standing tasks. In these cases it is suggested to move the legs asmuch as possible in order to increase the venous return flow from thelegs back into the body by promoting the so-called foot and calf musclepump. This is aided to a great extent by walking barefoot, however, theshoes which are customary these days have a rather disadvantageouseffect.

Walking shoes are known, wherein resilient layers in the form ofsupports are used in the heel area. But these known resilient layers aremerely intended to compensate the specific overloads occurring duringwalking, or at least to assist in partially preventing them (GermanPatent DE 39 02 872 A1).

In connection with an orthopedic inner sole for shoes known from GermanPatent DE 87 00 681 U1, cushioned, layers are also embodied as an archedpadding, which protrudes upward above the covering layer of the soles,and is provided in one piece with a large surface for support andpressure distribution in defined areas of the foot. An inner sole for ashoe is moreover known from German Patent DE 35 08 582 C2, which has aresilient padding in the area of the reflex zones of the foot. Thispadding has a symmetrically or asymmetrically concavely arched, orrespectively bulged shape, and is essentially circular when viewed fromabove, and is therefore used for stimulating the nerves in these reflexzones. The reflex zones in the feet have an exclusive effect on thenervous system which, inter alia, affects the arterial blood supply ofdefined organs. No remedy for the problems of venous outflow of bloodmentioned at the outset, in particular in the area of the lower leg, canbe achieved by this.

An inner pole for a shoe is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,877,wherein an intermediate sole is put together from individual elementsover its entire surface, of which a segment, which is arranged in theforefoot joint area, is divided into individual sub-segments. Thesub-segments adjoin each other in the transverse direction of the solesurface. The individual segments and sub-segments are each flat and ofthe same thickness. By means of a differently resilient embodiment, thisknown inner sole for a shoe is used for the differentiated support ofthe foot, wherein the position of the segments takes into considerationthe position of the corresponding bones of the foot.

A similar purpose is sought in European Patent, EP 0 316 289 A, whereinthe inner sole of the shoe is provided with hollow spaces distributedover the sole surface, which can be filled with a resilient materialcorresponding to the shape of the foot. Such an inner sole for a shoe isused for orthopedic correction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an innersole for a shoe of the type mentioned at the outset, which makespossible a considerable improvement of the venous return flow throughthe legs into the body, starting at the foot, by means of synergisticsupport of the muscle contraction in the course of the movement of thefoot and ankle joints.

To attain this object, a first cushioned layer is provided in theforefoot joint area, a second cushioned layer in the metatarsus/tarsustransition area, and a third cushioned layer in the metatarsus/heeltransition area. Each of these cushioned layers, which are provided foraiding the venous outflow of blood, is itself divided into individualplateau-like fields, which are positioned next to each other in thetransverse direction of the sole surface and are separated from eachother. The surface of the cushioned layers, which are also covered bythe sole cover layer, approximately forms a plane with the surface ofthe sole base body are provided in connection with an inner sole for ashoe of the type mentioned.

Suitable support areas, which positively affect a contraction of themusculature of the foot, result from the steps in accordance with thepresent invention, wherein the cushioned layers are not raisedseparately, but are placed in a plateau-like manner into defined areasof the foot and are divided into fields which are separated from eachother. These discrete support points are arranged in such a way that themuscle contraction is prompted, or respectively stimulated and thereforeimproved during the normal movement of the foot, but also considerablywhile standing. This results in a synergistic support during themovement sequence of the individual joints which, as a continuoushomogeneous movement wave, has a positive effect on the venous andlymphatic vessel system. In other words, a homogeneous mechanicalsqueezing of the venous and lymphatic vessel system takes place, whichleads to an increase in the venous return flow from the legs in thedirection toward the body. This characteristic support movement promotesthe action of the so-called foot and calf muscle pump, in particularsince the division of the pillow-cushioned layers into individual areasis similar to the arrangement of the muscles in the foot.

With further embodiments in accordance with the present invention,cushioned layers are provided in further important areas of the musclearrangement.

In accordance with one embodiment, the inner sole for a shoe can eitherbe individually employed as an insole, or it is provided as a sole whichis directly integrated into a shoe.

Further details of the present invention can be taken from the followingdescription, in which the exemplary embodiments represented in thedrawings are described in detail and explained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1, is a view from above on an inner sole of a shoe in accordancewith a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2, is a section along the line II-II in FIG. 1 in an enlarged view,

FIG. 3, is a section along the line III-III in FIG. 1 in an enlargedview, and

FIGS. 4 and 5, is are respectively a section similar to the one in FIG.3, but in accordance with two variants of the first exemplaryembodiment,

FIG. 6, is a view from above on an inner sole of a shoe in accordancewith a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 7, is a longitudinal section similar to the one in FIG. 3, butthrough the second exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 8, is an interior view in the longitudinal direction of the secondexemplary embodiment,

FIG. 9, is a view from above on the pre-processing stage of the innersole of the shoe in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention,

FIG. 10, is a longitudinal sectional view similar to the one in FIG. 7,but in the longitudinal direction of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11, is a view from above on an inner sole of a shoe in accordancewith a variant of the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, and

FIG. 12, is a longitudinal section similar to the one in FIG. 7, butthrough the variation of the second exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The inner sole 11, or respectively 111, or respectively 111′ representedin the drawings and embodied as a foot support, for example, inaccordance with two exemplary embodiments and a variant of the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention, is used for thesynergistic support of the musculature in the course of the movement ofthe foot and ankle joints for improving the conveyance of fluids in thevenous and lymphatic vessel system through the legs, and it can beembodied as an insole or as a sole integrated into a shoe.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 6, the inner sole 11, or respectively111 has several cushioned layers 12 to 16, or respectively 112 to 116provided over the sole surface 17, or respectively 117, of which thecushioned layers 12, 112, 13, 113 and 14, 114 are divided into separate,plateau-like fields 18 to 22, 118 to 122, or respectively 23 to 25, orrespectively 123 to 125, or respectively 26, 27, 126, 127, which areseparated from each other.

The first cushioned layer 12, 112 is provided in the forefoot jointarea, i.e. in the area of the toes. This first cushioned layer 12, 112is divided into five fields 18 to 22, 118 to 122, which are separatedfrom each other and arranged next to each other in the transversedirection of the inner sole 11, 111. The individual fields 18 to 22, 118to 122 are of different width and length, approximately corresponding tothe base area of the partial areas of the respective individual toes.This is correspondingly true for the shape of the front and rearborderline 28, 128, or respectively 29, 129, of this first cushionedlayer 12, 112. The second cushioned layer 13, 113 is provided in thetransition area between the metatarsus and the tarsus and in an areafacing away from the plantar arch. This second cushioned layer 13, 113is divided into three fields 23 to 25, 123 to 125, which are shaped tocorrespond to this partial area of the metatarsus/tarsus and arearranged divided and lying next to each other in the transversedirection of the inner sole 11, 111. This is correspondingly true forthe circumferential borderline 31, 131 of this second cushioned layer13, 113. The third cushioned layer 14, 114 is provided in a transitionarea between the metatarsus and the heel and divided into two fields 26,126 and 27, 127 which, viewed in the transverse direction of the innersole 11, 111, lie next to each other and are provided laterally on theoutside. Here, too, the circumferential borderline 32, 132 approximatelycorresponds to the transition area between the metatarsus and the heel.

The fourth cushioned layer 15, or respectively 115, is arranged in thearea of the heel and is designed in a plateau-like manner as a uniform,non-divided layer, which is approximately oval in the transverse, orrespectively longitudinal direction of the inner sole 11, 111. The fifthcushioned layer 16, 116 is also embodied as a uniform, non-dividedlayer, but is provided in the approximate shape of a sickle in the areaof the plantar arch.

The cushioned layers 12 to 16, 112 to 116 are made of a resilient (foam)material, for example silicon. They have a flat upper surface and areembodied to be approximately rectangular, advantageously slightlytrapezoidal, in cross section.

In the first exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3, theinner sole 11 has a sole base body 36, which here is triple-layered, andconstitutes the basic shape of the inner sole 11 and in accordance withFIG. 1 is designed to correspond to a foot, here the right foot. It isunderstood that the corresponding other, i.e. left inner sole 11, isdesigned to be mirror-symmetrical. The sole base body 36 consists, forexample, of three cork layers 33, 34, 35. A sole cover layer 37 which,for example is made of leather, is provided on the sole base body 36.The cushioned layers 12 to 16 are arranged in the sole base body 36 in arecessed manner between the sole base body 36 and the sole cover layer37. The upper and center layers 33, 34 of the sole base body 36 areprovided with corresponding depressions 38 for this purpose which,corresponding to the fields 18 to 27 of the cushioned layers 12 to 14and corresponding to the cushioned layers 15, 16, have different basesurfaces. The depressions 38 have been worked into the sole base body 36to such a depth that the respective flat top of the plateau-like,cushioned layers 12 to 15 lies approximately in a plane, i.e. co-planarwith the surface of the sole base body 36. The cushioned layer 16constitutes an exception. With this exemplary embodiment the depressions38 extend as far as the top of the lower layer 35. Among themselves, thecushioned layers 12 to 15 are of approximately the same height and arein a range between 2 to 5 mm, preferably in a range at 3 mm. Thematerial of the top, or respectively the sole cover layer 37, covers thecushioned layers 12 to 16 in such a way, that they, or respectivelytheir fields 18 to 27, are enclosed by a depression along the edge andare fixedly connected with, preferably glued to, the central layer 34 ofthe sole base body 36, so that, besides the borderlines 28, 29 and 31,32, intermediate borderlines 41 to 47 result, which extend approximatelyvertically with respect to the transverse direction of the inner sole11. In other words, the depressions 38 are designed to correspond to thetotal base surface of the cushioned layers 12 to 15.

With the two variants in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5, the surfacearrangement of the cushioned layers 12 to 15 of the inner sole 11 of theshoe, including the arrangement of the fields 18 to 27, is exactly thesame as shown in FIG. 1. The essential difference of the variants inFIGS. 4 and 5 with respect to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3rests in that a cushioned resilient intermediate layer 51′, orrespectively 51″ is provided over the entire surface of the sole basebody 36′ between the sole base body 36′, or respectively 36″, and thesole cover layer 37′, or respectively 37″. Here, the intermediate layer51 is made of the same resilient material as the cushioned layers 12 to16 and is fixedly connected with, preferably glued to, the entiresurface of one of the layers 34′ (FIG. 4), or respectively 35″ (FIG. 5),which have no depressions, of the sole base body 36′.

In accordance with FIG. 5, the cushioned intermediate layer 51″ is of athickness in the range between 2 to 3 mm, which is approximately uniformover the entire base surface, so that a continuous flat cushion results,which is considerably more resilient than the layers of the sole basebody 36′. Compared with FIG. 3, in this variant of the intermediatelayer 51″ has been placed over the entire surface between the lowerlayer 35′ and the center layer 34′.

In accordance with FIG. 4, the intermediate layer 51′ lies between thecenter layer 34′ and the upper layer 33′ and has a different thickness.Accordingly, here the upper layer 33′ is provided with depressions 38′,and the cushioned intermediate layer 51′ with depressions 52corresponding to the depressions 38 for receiving the cushioned layers12 to 16, over which the upper material, or respectively the sole coverlayer 37′ again extends in the same way as the sole cover layer 37 inaccordance with FIGS. 2 and 3.

With the second exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 6 to 10,the inner sole 111 has a dual-layer sole base body 136, whichconstitutes the basic shape of the inner sole 111 and which inaccordance with FIG. 6, or respectively 9, is designed to correspond toa foot, here the left foot. It is also understood here that thecorresponding other, i.e. the right inner sole, is designed to bemirror-symmetrical. The sole base body 136 is constructed from two corklayers, for example. A sole cover layer 137 is provided on the sole basebody, which is made of leather, for example.

The cushioned layers 112 to 115 are arranged between the sole base body136 and the sole cover layer 137 in a recessed manner. The sole basebody 136 is provided with corresponding depressions 138 for this purposewhich, corresponding to the fields 118 to 127 of the cushioned layers112 to 114 and corresponding to the cushioned layer 115, have adifferent base surface. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the correspondingdepressions 138 in a view from above, or respectively in section. Thus,the sole base body 136 has a maximum thickness in the range between 3.5to 4 mm, preferably 3.7 mm, and a minimum thickness in the area of itsdepressions 138 between approximately 1 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably 1.3mm. It is furthermore indicated in FIG. 9 that the entire surface 136 ofthe sole base body 153, which for example is multi-layered, is coveredwith a thin textile cover 139. It is possible in a manner not shownthat, instead of or in addition to this, the underside 154 of the solebase body 136 can be covered over its entire length with such a thintextile cover. The sole base body 136, or respectively its layers, aremade of cork scrap compacted by means of a binder.

In accordance with FIG. 7, the entire surface 152 of the sole base body136 is moreover covered with a resilient, or respectively cushionedintermediate layer 151. The intermediate layer 151 thus covers theentire surface, including the depressions 138 of the sole base body 136,so that depressions 152 corresponding to the depressions 138 remain inthe intermediate layer 151. The intermediate layer 151 has a continuousthickness of, for example, approximately 3 mm. The same as the cushionedlayers 112 to 116, the intermediate layer 151 is preferably made of afoamed material, for example foamed natural latex.

The cushioned layers 112 to 115 have been placed into the depressions152 of the intermediate layer 151 and consist, for example, of thefoamed natural latex and have a thickness in the range between 4 and 5mm, preferably of 4.5 mm, for example. In contrast thereto, thecushioned layer 116 for the plantar arch of the foot is not arranged ina depression, but directly on the intermediate layer 151, which in thisarea is flat, i.e. not provided with depressions. On its thickest part,this cushioned layer 116 also has a thickness of approximately 4 to 5mm, preferably 4.5 mm, wherein its thickness continuously decreasestoward the inside of the sole 111. Thus, the flat surfaces 156 of theplateau-like, cushioned layers 112 to 115 are raised by 1.5 to 2.5 mm,preferably approximately 2 mm, above the surface 157 of the intermediatelayer 151. The material on the top, or respectively the sole cover layer137, covers the cushioned layer 116 and furthermore the cushioned layers112 to 115 in such a way that the latter, or respectively their fields118 to 127, are enclosed by a depression along the edge and are fixedlyconnected with, preferably glued to, the intermediate layer 151 so that,besides the borderlines 128, 129 and 131, 132, intermediate borderlines,or respectively areas 141 to 147, result, which extend approximatelyvertically with respect to the transverse direction of the inner sole111.

The variant represented in FIGS. 11 and 12 differs from the secondexemplary embodiment only in the design of the second cushioned layer113′. FIGS. 11 and 12 for this variant have the same reference numeralsas those in FIGS. 6 to 10, only a prime has been added.

In accordance with FIGS. 11 and 12, the second cushioned layer 113′ isprovided with the outer field 125′, the center field 124′ and the innerfield 123′, wherein the two former fields are designed in accordancewith the representations in FIGS. 6 and 7. In comparison with the field123 in FIG. 6, the inner field 123′ of the second cushioned layer 113′has been pulled forward in a bow shape toward the first cushioned layer112′. This bow-shaped extended area 123′ lengthens and widens the frontsurface of the field 123′. As can be seen in FIG. 12, this bow-shapedextended area 123′ is not level like the remaining surface areas of thecushioned layer 113′, but is arched upward, i.e. again raised inrelation to the raised surface of the sole cover layer 137′. Thisarching raises the level of the bow-shaped extended area 123′ inrelation to the remaining area of the field 123′ and the fields 124′ and125′ by approximately 2 mm.

1. The inner sole of a shoe, comprising: a sole base body, defining asole surface and having a forefoot joint area, a metatarsus/tarsus area,a metatarsus/heel transition area, a heel area, and a plantar arch area;a sole cover layer; a first cushioned layer provided in said forefootjoint area; a second cushioned layer provided in said metatarsus/tarsustransition area; a third cushioned layer provided in saidmetatarsus/heel transition area, a fourth cushioned layer provided insaid heel area, said fourth cushioned area defining a surface which isplateau-shaped and is raised with respect to said sole surface; and afifth cushioned layer provided in said plantar arch area, said fifthcushioned layer being in the shape of a sickle, wherein: said first,second and third cushioned layers are located at support areas of saidsole base body which positively affect a contraction of the musculatureof the foot, serving thereby to aid the venous outflow of blood; saidfirst, second and third cushioned layers are each divided intoindividual plateau-like fields, separated from but positioned next toeach other in the transverse direction of said sole surface; eachcushioned layer defines a surface, which are each raised with respect tosaid sole surface; said sole cover layer covering said surface of eachcushioned layer and said sole surface; and each cushioned layer isrecessed in said sole base body.
 2. The inner sole as defined in claim1, wherein: said fourth and fifth cushioned layers are located atsupport areas of said sole base body which positively affect acontraction of the musculature of the foot, serving thereby to aid thevenous outflow of blood.